Big Bomb Notice

The Air Force is looking for a contractor to sustain its largest conventional bomb, the 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator produced by Boeing to destroy weapons of mass destruction located in fortified bunkers.

On April 7, the service's hard target munitions office published a sources-sought notice for contractors to maintain the bomb for up to five years.

Interested parties must be capable of providing personnel support "within 24-hours notification of weapon operational use," and have at least two years of experience conducting similar work.

MOP was built in small quantities, and it has been upgraded several times to "hold at risk" emerging target sets. Two more rounds of modification are planned.

The bomb is carried on the stealthy B-2 Spirit bomber and has been dropped from a B-52 Stratofortress.

Responses to the notice are due May 7.